Arizona football: Cats' priority: showing up

With no opponent to prepare for this week, UA coach Rich Rodriguez is still bothered by last week's loss to Arizona State.

LOS ANGELES - Pete Carroll left USC 17 games ago, taking his
passion for competition, days-of-the-week designations and
unmatched energy to the NFL.

The Arizona Wildcats would be wise to cop a Carroll-ism - "Show
up Saturday" - as they limp into Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
today.

The UA hasn't merely been beaten in its last three games; it has
been outscored, out-hustled and outclassed.

Consider: The Wildcats have trailed for 164 minutes 53 seconds
of the last 180 minutes they've played; in the other 15 minutes 7
seconds, the score was tied 0-0. Arizona has been outscored 82-33
in the first half this season, and 72-19 in the last three weeks.
It hasn't led since Week 1.

While quarterback Nick Foles continues to put up impressive
numbers, most of his 1,447 yards have come with the UA trailing by
multiple scores.

There's a term for that in L.A.: Cosmetic enhancement.

"We need our players to start competing better, and not start
competing when you're down 21-3," UA coach Mike Stoops said. "It's
easy to compete then; you have nothing to lose. I don't know what
we have to lose anyhow.

"We've always had good games with USC. Last year, the year
before and the year before that have all been really competitive
games."

Today, however, could shape up as another blowout loss unless
Arizona tackles better. Arizona's defense is allowing 233.5 rushing
yards per game, the seventh-worst total of any Division I team in
the country. The last two running backs to face the Wildcats set
personal and - in the case of Oregon's LaMichael James - school
records.

USC tailback Marc Tyler is coming off a 22-carry, 149-yard
performance last week against Arizona State. In three games - Tyler
was suspended for the season opener against Minnesota - the
tailback is averaging 5 yards per carry.

The bruising back is expected to shine. But Arizona's defense,
which has been damaged by injuries to defensive end Mohammed Usman
and safety Marquis Flowers, might be better than its dismal numbers
suggest.

At least USC quarterback Matt Barkley thinks so.

"They have a very solid defense and a very solid team with an
explosive offense," Barkley said. "Their defense is a little banged
up, but we're definitely going to have to watch out for them."

Arizona (1-3, 0-2) will counter with a pass-happy attack led by
Foles, who could set an NCAA record with another turnover-free
performance today. The quarterback has attempted 183 passes this
season without being intercepted; with 42 more, he'll break the
all-time NCAA single-season mark of 224, set by Virginia's Matt
Blundin in 1991.

Of course, Foles might not throw often enough to approach the
mark. The UA has spent the last two weeks emphasizing the run, in
part to keep its increasingly vulnerable quarterback healthy. Foles
has taken 10 sacks in the last two weeks.

Tailback Keola Antolin calls it "forcing the run," and it's a
good thing.

"We're focused on running the ball more, coming out in practice
every day and doing it," he said. "The only way you can get better
is to do it."

The UA has already endured the toughest stretch in program
history, losing to three teams - Oklahoma State, Stanford and
Oregon - ranked in the top 10 nationally. Although USC (3-1, 1-1)
is still considered one of the West's premier programs, its still -
like Arizona - young on both lines and weak in the red zone.

Few expect the Wildcats to pull off an upset. Showing up would
be a start.

"You can't live in the past," Stoops said. "You have to look
forward, and you have to improve."